When placing a beacon, lay your timed C4 next to it. It will usually blow first, killing techs trying to disarm it.

If you manage to get a vehicle into their base then set the beacon a little distance from the target building and park over it.

Another thing, when guarding the beacon, fear the pistol! Too many times ive killed unwary stealth troops because they underestimate the pistol.

As far as setting off a beacon in your base, it is a very effective tactic. When the enemy is swarming your base running amok with tanks it does wonders to clear the area. Not actually to kill units, more to deter them from the area and panick them some.

See you guys out there.